On a snowy, December 22nd morning in 1944 two German officers alongside two enlisted German soldiers approached the American front lines deep in the Ardennes forest in eastern Belgium. Holding a waving white flag, the German soldiers carried a briefcase and asked to speak with the commanding officer of this section. Baffled, the American soldiers on the line inquired as to what this was all about. The German soldiers said they had a written message that was to be delivered to the American commander of the town of Bastogne. This letter, written in 1944 sets an incredible groundwork for five subtle lies that all leaders must be aware of when it comes to the inner voice tempting a leader to quit.

In mid-December, 1944 the United States was deeply invested in a European war with Nazi Germany. This fight became an inch by inch battle all across Europe. At the beginning of December, the Germans launched a massive counter movement that tested the thin lines of American military might. In a town called Bastogne, members of F Company of the 127th Glider Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, led by General Anthony McAuliffe, found themselves in a bind.

The German offensive had pushed the lines of American regiments back, leaving the 101st Airborne Division completely surrounded by German divisions. As the 101st Airborne defended the town of Bastogne, as they held their ground, they became completely trapped with German divisions closing in from all directions and no supply lines for reinforcements, food, or proper clothing to fight the bitter Bastogne winter. A stubborn group, with a long history of proven military acumen, the 101st held their ground after barrages of German artillery and advances to take the town of Bastogne. They did not give in. They held their ground.

After weeks of this, the Germans prepared to give the Americans an ultimatum. Concede. Surrender and the artillery will stop. Lay down your arms, and the discomfort will end. The four German soldiers delivered the following message to be delivered to General Anthony McAulliffe, the commander of the section.

December 22nd 1944

To the U.S.A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne:

The fortune of the war is changing. This time the U.S.A. forces in and near Bastogne have been encircled by strong German armored units. More German armored units have crossed the river Ourthe near Ortheuville, have taken Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hompre-Sibret-Tillet. Libramont is in German hands. There is only one possibility to save the encircled U.S.A. troops from total annihilation: that is the honorable surrender of the encircled town. In order to think it over a term of two hours will be granted beginning with the presentation of this note. If this proposal should be rejected one German Artillery Corps and six heavy A.A. Battalions are ready to annihilate the U.S.A. troops in and near Bastogne. The order for firing will be given immediately after this two hours’ term. All the serious civilian losses caused by this artillery fire would not correspond with the well known American humanity. 

The German Commander

 Upon reading the letter General McAuliffe asked his regimental staff, “They want to surrender?” His staff told him, “No sir, they want us to surrender.” McAuliffe arose from his desk in a mixture of shock, awe, and anger. He picked up the letter, looked at it and said “Us surrender, Nuts!” He threw the letter to the ground, stormed out of headquarters and went to tend to his men on the line. 

After returning to headquarters, his staff informed him that the German officers were still waiting at the command post. Having delivered a formal letter, they expected a formal response to return to German headquarters with. General McAuliffe had his response typed up and handed it to an officer named Colonel Bud Harper, the 327th Regimental Commander. It would be Col. Harper who would deliver the response to the German officers. 

Col. Harper drove to the command post to meet the German officers. Upon arriving the German officers asked if he had the American response and if it was written or verbal. Harper handed them the letter. The Germans opened the letter to see the following response.

December 22, 1944

To the German Commander:

NUTS!

The American Commander

Unfamiliar with the slang term the German officers asked through a translator, “What does this mean?”

“Will the Americans be surrendering?”

Harper responded. The translator relayed his message in German. 

“Du kannst zum Teufel gehen.” 

Translated into english Harper’s response was simple. 

“You can go to hell. We’re not surrendering.”

Despite being surrounded on all sides by a German fighting force. The 101st Airborne Division led by General McAuliffe was not going anywhere. They would decide to stand their ground and keep fighting. Upon hearing the American response the German officers were furious. They stormed back to their vehicle and returned to German headquarters. 

The fighting for Bastogne would continue another five days. The Germans unleashed bombings on the town from the German Luftwaffe. They attacked night and day, not allowing the 101st Airborne to rest. They riddled the town with artillery strikes relentlessly. Eventually, the Army’s 4th Armored Division broke through the German lines and freed the 101st Airborne from being surrounded. The 101st held their ground and did not surrender the town of Bastogne. The Germans eventually were driven back and never seized the town of Bastogne or annihilated the American troops holding the town. The 4th Armored Division led by General George S. Patton would receive credit publicly indicating they “rescued” the 101st Airborne Division. Despite the narrative, no one from the 101st Airborne Division ever felt like they needed rescued. 

There will always be a voice that tempts a leader to surrender. It may not come in the form of a written letter, but there always will be fundamental mechanics to messaging that tempts us to surrender the pursuit. The letter from the German commander showcases the five tell tale lies the enemy wants you to believe in order to tempt you to quit.

“The fortune of the war is changing”

The lie saying that you’ve lost your advantage. There may have been a point in time where things looked great, but not anymore. The fortune has changed and you are now in a weak position. The German commander wants to showcase that for the time being, they have the upper hand. It wasn’t always this way, but it is now. This lie will lead us to believe that the momentum has shifted against us and cannot be shifted back in our favor. 

“More artillery have crossed the river”

This lie wants to over exaggerate the resources. The competition has WAY more resources than we do. We are so far behind in resources or capital, that it will be impossible to catch up to our competitors. History showed that the German commander was actually wrong. Upon returning to headquarters he ordered artillery units to unleash on Bastogne because he was embarrassed. He was informed that his superior had actually moved artillery units AWAY from this fighting position to another town. He had committed resources that he didn’t have. 

“There is only one possibility to save the encircled U.S.A. troops from total annihilation.”

You may be faced with the lie saying there is only one outcome. There is only one choice to make, there are no other options, you must surrender. The German commander attempts to plant in the mind of the opposition, “the outcome is obvious to everyone but you.” There are often multiple doors, or multiple answers, but your enemy will never let you believe you have options. In many negotiations the goal is to convince the other party they have no choice but to choose the desired outcome being presented. Be careful to fall for the lie of one single possibility. We live in a world of possibilities. 

“The order for firing will be given after this two hours’ term.”

This lie is about a time constraint to make a rushed decision. The enemy will always rush. If you are given a hard deadline, in a rushed manner, without time to process or consider all available options, you are likely being presented with this lie. Wise decision making is always processed, pondered, mulled over. Foolish decision making is rash and impulsive. When backed into a corner and given a two hour deadline, you can be sure you are being manipulated. 

“All serious civilian losses caused by this artillery fire would not correspond with the well known American humanity.”

The final lie will make you feel as if by standing your ground, by staying the course in your pursuit, you are actually being irresponsible and wreck-less. The enemy will always lie to make you believe there is an irresponsibility to your pursuit. It’s irresponsible to launch your own business at this time in your life. It’s irresponsible to go back to school to get your degree at this stage of your life with a spouse and kids. It’s irresponsible to trade the safe 9-to-5 for the job you are passionate about. “What will your in-laws think?” “Think of your kids.” “Don’t you think you are being a little careless here?” The German commander attempts to convince his enemy to believe by not surrendering, the Americans are killing innocent civilians. It’s not the German artillery, it’s the American refusal to surrender. If not careful this type of lie can play on our emotions and cause us to make an emotional decision that we will regret.

The safe, noble route is of no danger to the enemy. The path you are on as a leader has a real possibility of impacting and disrupting your enemy’s plans. Beware of the lies, tempting you to believe the fortune has changed, or that you don’t have enough resources. Be careful to not fall victim to the lies that the outcome has already been decided, or that you must make a decision right this second. Don’t believe that your pursuit is irresponsible. The real irresponsibility is to play it safe and take no risk at all. Stand your ground.

Stay The Course,

JB